Police Warn Private Security Firms Over Firearms Misuse

What the report says

Police in Uganda have cautioned private security companies to strengthen firearm control, assign only trained guards to armed duties and follow the rules governing their operations. The warning came after police said they had recovered 23 guns, raising fresh concerns about the handling and possible misuse of weapons by private security personnel.

At a press briefing at Naguru Police Headquarters, police spokesperson Rosoke Kituuma said security firms must operate within the 2013 legal framework and maintain discipline among their staff. He said one of the recovered firearms had been stolen in Kimumbasa, Bugiri, and was later alleged to have been used in kidnappings, underscoring the risks tied to poor oversight of weapons.

Kituuma also warned armed guards not to travel on boda bodas while on duty, saying company vehicles should be used instead because motorcycles can create security vulnerabilities. He said police were monitoring compliance and indicated that those violating the guidance could face action.

In the same briefing, Kituuma addressed other issues, including denying rumours that the UPDF was selling aircraft and saying people spreading false information could be arrested. He also said investigations into the Nansana fire case, in which three people died and six survived, were continuing and would be treated as arson based on available evidence. Contextually, the remarks reflect broader police efforts to tighten control over firearms and public safety, though only the warning to private security firms is directly supported by the reported article.